Wa maa tukhaddimu li anfusikum min khayrin tajidu ‘indallahi huwa kharyan wa a’dhama ajra

And whatever good you send on before yourselves, you will find it with Allah, better (that what you actually sent) and a great reward. 

Wa Sall Allahu ta ‘ala 'alaa Sayyidinaa wa Mawlaanaa Muhammadin wa Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa sallim

1. What made you start the food pantry?

The Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services was started in the spring of 2011 because there is a tremendous need for food pantries specifically designed to meet the needs of Muslim families. Recent statistics from the Department of Agriculture have revealed that as a result of the economic downturn or loss of income of families in America many are finding it more and more difficult to provide sufficient food to feed their families. After living in Northeast Georgia for over 20 years and having the opportunity to live around Muslims and visit Muslims in other areas the idea for starting a food pantry seemed very relevant since there are currently no food pantries in the Northeast Georgia area specifically intended to assist those Muslim families with the exception of Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services. There are local food pantries in various counties throughout Northeast Georgia and Atlanta; however, much of the food distributed from these pantries cannot be eaten by Muslims. The meat is not dhabihah halal, much of the food contains pork, lard, or gelatin products as well as animal shortening in some of the snacks, baked products and cookies. From this standpoint alone, there is a great need for a food pantry that will distribute dhabihah meat and food that is halal for Muslims to eat. Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services also distributes Islamic clothing, modest seasonal clothing, baby clothes and personal care items to Muslim families in need of clothes as well as food through our mobile food pantry. We deliver food and clothing three or more times per week locally throughout the Northeast Georgia area depending upon need and two to three times per week to families in the metro Atlanta area who call us requesting assistance. For emergency assistance, we make every effort to respond within 24-48 hours depending upon the particular circumstances of each family.

2. What is the main differentiating factor in this pantry (why is it special)?

The most important differentiating factor when compared to other food pantries in the Northeast Georgia area is that the Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services is unique in that it caters to the needs of Muslims families and distributes halal foods, different ethnic Islamic foods and also offers health education classes on a monthly basis to children and adults to encourage healthy eating habits in accordance with Islamic guidelines and restrictions. Additionally, the Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services also distributes Islamic clothing, modest seasonal clothing, baby clothes and personal care products to Muslim families who are in need of clothing and other items. Another distinguishing factor is that unlike the more traditional food pantries where there is a limit of how often families and individuals can come to the pantry (usually twice per year or in some cases every few months) it is a policy of the Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services not to turn anyone away that is in need of food and clothing. If need be families and individuals can come on a monthly basis until their financial situation improves and they are able to purchase food or have sufficient amounts of food to feed their families. Food, clothing and household items (furniture, appliances, and personal care items) are also delivered to individuals and families on a weekly basis who do not have transportation to come to pick up food and clothes. In addition, Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services offers monthly health and nutrition classes which cover a broad range of topics including acupuncture, the use of herbs for healing, first aid and safety, massage therapy and healthy diet and nutrition.

3. How has this pantry benefitted the community in the past?

The Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services opened in May 2011 as a small food pantry designed to serve Muslims in the Northeast Georgia area, however, after four short months of operation Muslims located in the metro Atlanta area who were in need of food, clothes and household items were also served. By June 2012, Madinah Food Pantry extended its services to include family services and already has helped to feed and clothe many Muslim families who are experiencing financial hardships as well as assist with bills when able. During the month of Ramadan much of the food that was donated was used for Iftar meals to feed individuals and families and distributed to families who did not have sufficient finances to feed their families. For the past two years during the blessed month of Ramadhan along with hosting Iftar meals and distributing food packages and personal care items to families, the Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services also participated in a nationwide program that helped to provide Eid Gifts to children from infants to age 18 in Northeast Georgia and the metro Atlanta area. This past year Ramadhan baskets were distributed to families throughout Northeast Georgia and metro Atlanta filled with food, Islamic literature and other goodies donated by Muslim Girl Scouts of the Lawrenceville area in metro Atlanta. 

Many of the families who request assistance from Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services have at least 4 or more children, some are single parent families, many are elderly and most are families with no income or limited incomes. Even with supplemental food assistance programs such as WIC or TANF, these programs in many cases are not enough to feed the entire family for a month so Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services has assisted many families with food and clothing (when requested) who otherwise would be left without food to feed their families or have to borrow food from others who may or may not be able to assist those in need. The Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services also networks with other Muslim run pantries and if and when possible, donates food requested to other pantries such as Baitul Salaam Network located in Stone Mountain, Georgia.

4. Can you please describe your qualifications to run the pantry?

My background in social services spans over a period of roughly 30 years which includes working as a medical social worker, child protective services worker, counselor, caseworker in three different agencies (DFACS, day school for mentally and physically challenged adults, drug prevention agency) and in working with support services for children and families. I currently hold a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Counseling from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia since 1986 and a Master’s degree in Social Work since 1989 from the University of Georgia with emphasis on Child Welfare and Family Systems. I have a Ph.D. in Human Services with specialization in Family Systems and Intervention Strategies from Walden University. My dissertation topic focused on interviewing Muslim families who presently live in the United States in the Southeastern part of the United States and the challenges that Muslims face living in the United States. Both the current research and interviewees of my study indicated the dire need for social services for Muslims who live in the United States. Much of the current research has indicated that Muslims are a rapidly growing population and yet a population that is underserved by the current social services systems in that their needs are unique and often misunderstood by those in the helping professions.

5. Are donations tax deductible?

Donations are tax deductible. We are currently working on obtaining a 501©3 status.

6. How do you distribute the food items and to whom?

We now operate the Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services as a mobile food pantry because of the great need of families to have food, clothes and household items delivered to them. We distribute food and clothing throughout Northeast Georgia and metro Atlanta within a 75 mile radius as per request from families in need. Food and clothing are also distributed based on referrals from others who may know of a family who needs food or clothing. In this case a food package is prepared and distributed to any family in need of food or clothes. Food packages are also prepared on a monthly basis for families who have no income or limited income to make sure all families have food. In case of an emergency, individuals can contact  us at home or through email and a food package is prepared within a 24-48 hour period at the latest from the date of the request. We also have started a “Meals on Wheels Program” in which we distribute cooked food to Muslim families in need on Fridays. These are families who are elderly (60 and older), in poor health or unable to cook, or experiencing some crisis type of situation (no electricity or way to cook, no food, someone hospitalized in the family, etc…)

7. Is this open to non-Muslims as well?

Though it is not our policy to turn anyone away in need of food, Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services has opened with the intent to meet the needs of Muslim families at this time. Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services has been specifically designed for Muslim individuals and families because of the lack of social services in the area for Muslims. In the Northeast Georgia area there are several food pantries that non-Muslims can go to for food assistance through different local churches and non- profit organizations. For emergency situations, however, Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services would not turn away anyone or discriminate because of religious or ethnic background.

8. You mentioned you’ll pick up items. What is the farthest you can pick up?

As of now, we can pick up items throughout the metro Atlanta area (Gwinnett County, DeKalb County, Fulton County, Cobb County, and Forsyth County) and throughout Northeast Georgia (Barrow County, Hall County, Jackson County, Banks County, Clarke County, Madison County, Oglethorpe County, Franklin County, and Stephens County). We can also accept monetary donations through PayPal on our website: www.madinahfoodpantry.org

9. Is there a deadline to donate?

There is no deadline to donate unless someone wishes to donate for a specific reason, Islamic holiday (Eid), or during Ramadan (Iftar meals) etc. We also have a monthly sponsorship program in which individuals can donate monthly or yearly to Madinah Food Pantry set up on our website.

10. Do you run this pantry year round or is this just for Eid?

Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services is open year around to Muslim individuals and families who are in need of food, clothing and household items. The hours of operation vary according to the time of year.  For emergency situations, we can be contacted at home (678-242-8057) or cell phone (706-224-0924) or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For any additional information on Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services please visit our website at www.madinahfoodpantry.org.

11. Is this effort for the Athens community or the Atlanta community?

Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services currently serves Muslim residents in the Northeast Georgia area, which includes Commerce, Athens, Jefferson, Toccoa, Watkinsville, Danielsville, Lavonia and Gainesville. We also distribute food and clothing to Muslims in the Metro-Atlanta area (Lawrenceville, Norcross, Duluth, Buford, Alpharetta, Stone Mountain, Lavonia, Decatur, Clarkston, Roswell, Riverdale, College Park and Marietta) as needed by families.

We are grateful that Allahu ta ‘ala has allowed us to participate in this work of assisting his servants. We would like to extend the invitation to all to join us by subscribing to the Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services RSS feed on the website (www.madinahfoodpantry.org) so that you will receive any current information as it is posted on the site to support this especially rewarding and much needed work. Any financial assistance, donations and volunteer assistance is welcomed and highly appreciated.

Dr. Salima Hunafa Ph.D.

Director, Madinah Food Pantry & Family Services, LLC